Dølajazzmesse

On Sunday, October 19th at 7:00 PM, we welcome you to the Dølajazz Mass at Nordre Ål Church. Gesellparken's Traditions Ensemble will participate along with the women's choir Flowers, parish priest Rosemarie Rustad Stakston, and cantor Gunnar Melbø. The mass parts are newly composed music by Gunnar Melbø, while the hymns and other contributions are arranged by Melbø and members of Gesellparken.

Nordre Ål Church was built for the Olympics in '94 and was a gathering point in the Participant Village. The church is well-suited for rhythmic music and is known for having a varied musical expression. Festival artist Karl Johan Giskeødegård created the baptismal font. We look forward to holding the Dølajazz Mass in Nordre Ål Church!

Flowers is the women's choir of Nordre Ål Church and is led by cantor Gunnar Melbø. They are a friendly group and have a varied repertoire.

Gunnar Melbø is a trained cantor and music educator from the NTNU Music Conservatory in Trondheim and the Grieg Academy in Bergen. He taught at Kongshaug Music High School from its inception in 1999 until he became a cantor at Fåberg Church in 2017. He has been a cantor at Nordre Ål Church since 2021.

Gesellparken's Traditions Ensemble is a Lillehammer-based jazz group that seeks to use and preserve good popular music that should not be forgotten. The repertoire therefore has a wide range, including everything from trad and swing jazz to The Beatles.

Everything is arranged in the band's own packaging and expression, but without compromising the identical and recognizable melodies.

The ensemble originated from the popular Ad Lib scene at Fabrikken in Lillehammer, where it is often a full house on the first Saturday of each month. After 6 years of operation, the band has become a sought-after ensemble at various events in the region.

In the past three years, Gesellparken has also had successful concerts for full houses at Lillehammer Microbrewery. Here, club nights with jazz concerts are held 1-2 times per month, featuring well-known and skilled Norwegian and international bands.

All members of the jazz ensemble have extensive experience as musicians and also play in other orchestras. The band often collaborates with guest artists when specific performance assignments make it natural.

The band's performing musicians are:
• Bjørnar Nilsen, trombone/vocals and arrangements
• Erik Sørlien, trumpet/flugelhorn
• Øivind Pedersen, clarinet/tenor saxophone and arrangements
• Bistra van Dijk, piano/vocals
• Sten Celius, guitars
• Jo Kleiven, double bass and arrangements
• Geir Wøldike, percussion